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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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^(3 


1.0 


I.I 


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2.0 


1.8 


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► 

Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


T-.  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  S73-4503 


'V- 


^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculAe 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  aufe  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r~|    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  ia  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  ce'a  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6tA  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


Tl 
to 


|~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


n 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicultes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe* 
Pages  dAcoiories,  tachetAes  ou  piquAes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppiimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~n  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

rvTI  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r^  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Tl 

P< 
oi 
fil 


Oi 
b« 
th 
si( 
ot 
fil 
si( 
or 


sh 
Tl 

wl 

M 
dit 

en 
be 
rig 

re( 
mi 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  A  nouveau  de  fa9on  A 
obtenir  la  meilieura  image  possible. 


This  Item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


1 

i 

j;^ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 

du 
Ddifier 

une 
Tiaga 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibiiity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  v/nh  a  printad  or  IKustratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  pdigo  with  a  pr!-.;7.d  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassior. 


Tha  last  racordad  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and    op  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
gAnArosit*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  4tA  raproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattet*  de  l'exemplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmto  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  paga  qui  comporta  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  fiimAs  an  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symbols^  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  csrtes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  giand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droits, 
et  de  haut  an  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


rrata 
o 


>elure, 


3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

(-e 


I  ^ 


H( 


Cdllectiorv 


-^ 


SPEECH 


or 


HON.  D.  A.  STARKWEATHER,  OF  OHIO. 


OH 


THE  OREGON  QUESTION. 


DELITERBO 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  6,  1846 


WASHINGTON : 

PRINTED  AT  THE  OFFICE  OF  BLAIR  AND  RIVES. 

1846. 


7.:-   /■  7    - 


'  be 


THE    OREGON    QUESTION. 


The  House  being  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  on 
the  state  of  the  Union,  on  the  Resolution  autho- 
rizing the  President  to  give  notice  to  Great  Drit- 
ain  of  'le  abrogation  of  the  convention  of  joint 
occupaii   / — 

Mr.  STA:!KWEATHER  obtained  the  floor, 
and  addressed  tlie  committee  as  follows: 

Mr.  Chairman':  In  entering  on  this  discussion,  1 
wish  to  state,  before  I  approach  the  subject,  (and 
this  I  speak  more  for  the  information  of  my  con- 
stituents than  that  of  the  House,)  that,  on  the 
Texas  question,  I  have  not  voted,  not  because  I 
wished  to  dodge  the  question,  but  because  I  was 
absent  from  the  city  when  the  question  was  taken, 
on  important  business,  and  thus  lost  the  privilege 
of  recording  my  vote.  1  may  be  allowecl  to  pre- 
mise this  for  the  information  of  the  people  of  my 
district,  though  it  will  not  be  without  its  bearing 
on  the  remarks  I  am  about  to  submit  to  the  com- 
mittee. 

I  should  not  (said  Mr.  S.)  have  attempted  to  ad- 
dress the  committee  at  this  late  hour,  had  1  not 
thought  I  had  discovered,  in  some  quarters,  a  fixed 
determination  to  degrade  this  great  national  ques- 
tion to  a  mere  sectional  and  western  measure. 
When  the  debate  opened,  the  gentleman  from 
Alabama,  [Mr.  Yancey,]  and  the  gentleman  from 
•South  Carolina,  [Mr.  Rhktt,]  followed  by  another 
from  "Old  Virginia,"  who  "  never  tires"  ni  sound- 
ing her  own  praises,  charged  expressly  that  this 
was  a  western  vn(;asure.  The  gentleman  from  Al- 
abama said:  ''I  beg  of  our  friends  of  the  West 
'  that,  if  some  of  us  of  the  South  are  disposed  to 

!>ut  a  curb  on  this  hoi  impetuosihj,  we  shall  not 
)e  deemed  their  enemies  on  this  great  issue." 
Again,  he  says;  "Are  we  prepared  for  this  issue 
'  of  arms.'  Prom  the  very  West,  tohich  now  seeks  to 
r~  "  ■  ■ 


'  iniwlvc  the  country  in  its  vicissitudes  and  horrort, 
'  has  come  a  long  and  continued  opposition  to  any 
«  such  increase  of  our  gallant  and  glorious  navy  an 
'  the  wants  of  the  country,  it  seems  to  me,  imper- 
'atively  demand."  Sir,  I  repeat,  it  has  been 
charged  that  this  is  a  western  measure,  and  that 
western  members  are  seeking;  to  involve  our  hefoved 
country  in  all  the  vicissitudes  and  horrors  of  war. 
Sir,  had  not  the  West,  which  adopted  me  as  one 
of  her  sons,  been  thus  assailed,  I  should  not,  per- 
haps, have  attempted  to  speak  on  this  occasion ; 
but  I  could  not  consent  to  sit  still  and  hear  un- 
merited aspersions  heaped  upon  the  West,  without 
saying  one  word  in  vindication  of  that  country 
which  adopted  me  as  hers  when  a  youth,  clothed 
me  when  naked,  and  consoled  me  when  disconso- 
late. The  gentleman  from  Alabama  [Mr.  Yan- 
cey] further  said:  "At  this  very  time,  too,  when 
'  war's  dread  horrors  are  laughed  at  by  young  num- 
'  bers  of  this  House,  full  of  courage,  doubtless,  but 
'  with  no  experience,  even  now  when  we  are  about 
'  to  dare  Old  England  to  cross  swords  with  us,  se- 
'  rious  opposition  is  made  to  passing  a  bill  provi- 
'  ding  for  tiie  raising  of  a  single  regiment  of  rifle- 
•  men. "  Here,  sir,  in  this  is  contained  the  charge, 
that  those  who  go  for  the  notice  are  young  and 
inexperienced  men,  ready  and  willing  to  plunge 
this  country  into  an  unprepared  and  disgraceful 
war.  As  this  sentiment  fell  from  the  lips  of  the 
inexperienced— 1  ask  pardon— the  experienced  gen- 
tiemiui  from  Alabama,  [Mr.  Yancey,]  I  heard,  or 
thouglit  I  heard,  my  youn;:  and  inexperienced 
friend  from  Massachusetts,  [Mr.  Adams,]  who  is 
a  friend  of  the  measure,  in  the  language  of  the 
great  philosopher  of  poetry,  inquire,  "  How  much 
older  art  thou,  young  man,  than  thy  years.'" 

This  a  western  measure!     Does  Oregon  belong 
to  the  West.'     No,  sir,  it  belongs  to  the  whole 


Union,  and  to  tlic  West  only  in  common  with  hor 
It  is  tnip,  sir,  if  war  should  jr  out  of  this  iio- 
tic-c,  (of  which  I  have  no  fears,)  the  liardy  sons  of 
the  West  would,  at  tlie  first  bu^lc  note  of  war, 
unyoke  their  hor.ses  from  the  ])lou2;h  in  the  liali'- 
turncd  furrow,  and  harness  them  for  the  .shock  of 
battle.  Wherever  e;lory  was  to  he  won,  or  deeds 
of  valor  to  he  achieve(l,  whether  on  the  [ilains  of 
Oregon,  in  the  frozen  North,  or  the  sunny  South, 
there,  sir,  would  they  he  found. 

I^et  me  not  he  misunderstood.  I  am  a  lover  of 
pence.  Strictly  and  emphatically  am  I  a  peace 
man.  I  can  see  all  its  beauties,  and  appreciate  all 
il«  benefits.  I  well  know  that.  (;ivilization,  science, 
the  arts,  religion,  and  ijeneral  social  prospe.jy — 
all  flourish  under  the  rei,',ni  of  peace.  Peace  is  the 
j^oddess  I  worship.  I  would  purchase  it  at  any 
price  but  the  )»rice  of  cowardly  fear  or  national 
dishonor.  These  arc  loo  high  a  price  to  pay  even 
for  peace  itself. 

One  year  since.  I  was  a  private  citizen,  living  in 
the  midst  of  my  constituents.  We  read  with  deeji 
anxiety  the  debates  on  the  Texas  question,  and 
watched  with  solicitude  every  step  taken  thereon. 
I,  for  one,  was  anxious,  if  the  deed  was  to  be 
done  that  it  were  done,  and  so  were  my  constit- 
uents. A  large  majority  were. in  favor  of  the  an- 
nexation of  Texas  in  some  form,  sr,  uit  it  could 
be  constitutionally  done,  and  without  dishonor. 
The  deed  was  done.  The  West  went  with  the 
South,  and  the  lone  star  now  culminates  with  her 
sisters.  Texas  was  admitted  into  this  Union  as 
a  State,  not  rcannexed.  That  argument  is  to  me, 
like  the  tale  of  an  idiot,  signifying  nothing.  SJie 
was  taken  into  this  Union  because  she,  like  our 
revolutionary  fatlicrs,  had  won  her  liberty,  and, 
being  free,  had  a  riglit  to  contract.  I  have  said 
tliat  Texas  is  now  in  this  confederacy.  The  broad 
flag  of  this  Uni(^n  now  floats  over  her,  giving  her 
an  assurance  of  protection  and  peace. 

Sir,  Oregon  and  Texas  were  tivin  sisters,  born 
at  a  birth;  Oregon  the  elder,  and  for  a  while  she 
did  seem  to  outstrip  her  sister;  but  suddenly,  at  a 
single  bound, Texas  sprang  ahead,  and  where  now, 
let  nie  ask,  is  Oregon?  Left  to  all  the  dangers  of 
an  early  and  perilous  orplianagc.  Sir,  wo  have 
protected  that  which  was  not  ours,  and  forsaken 
that  which  is.  Why  is  this?  1  will  not  answer 
the  question.  I  will  leave  it  to  others.  But  this 
I  do  know,  that  some  gentlemen,  who  now  seem 
to  turn  pale  in  contemplating  the  power  of  Eng- 
land, her  warlike  preparations,  and  her  prowes.s, 
who  now  are  clamorous  against  the  giving  of  this 
notice,  because  England  possibly  may  object,  but 
one  short  year  ago,witl;  rash  and  fiery  hand,  were 
for  plucking  the  golden  fruit — Texas.  Then  was 
the  hour.  The  golden  pear  was  rine,  and  that  was 
the  moment  to  gather  it,  or  it  would  be  lost  forever. 

England  protested  against  the  annexation  of 
Texas,  and  Mexico  set  up  her  claim  to  it.  War 
was  anticipated  with  England  then.     The  distin- 

guishcd   gentleman    fioin   South    Carolina,    [Mr. 
luETT,]  who  now  informs  us  that  before  we  can 
acquire  possession  of  Oregon,  "we  must  fight  in 

•  every  region  of  the  world,  wherever  British  com- 

•  mercc  extends,  British  power  is  felt,  and  British 
'  strength  is  accumulated;  that  we  must  tear  down 
'  the  pillars  which  support  the  vast  structure  of  the 
'  British  empire — the  most  magnificent  the  world 


J  •  ever  beheld;"  then  exclaimed,  "  the  annexation  of 
'  '  Texas  would  be  a  j)roclamation  to   En,<;land  to 
I  '  come  on,  if  she  cho.sc  to  go  to  war  on  th;it  issue." 
j  (See  dnnf^ression.  '..'Iiipendix, pai:^^  1(JG.) 
i      What,  in  one  .short  year,  hath  caused  a  change 
in  the  spirit  of  these  gentlemen's  dreams?    On  what 
ha'h  this  British  lion  fed  that  he  halh  now  grown 
I  so  1/ig  r     When  Texas  was  to  be  aiuie'ced,  we  were 
*  tauglu  to  believe  that  he  was  but  a  mean  cur,  which 
I  a  woniai.  v.ilh  a  dairger  of  lath  could  whip  back  to 
his  kennel.     Gentlemen  who  then  were  as  brave 
j  as  rjasar,  arc  now  ready  to  fawn,  and  cringe,  and 
j  yield  submissive  homage  to  any  who  may  please 
to  demand  it. 

Why,  sir,  the;  whole  argument  in  opposition  to 
this  iiicusure  has  been  adilressed  to  the  fears,  and 
not  the  patriotism,  of  this  House.     When  Texas 
was  to  i  c  annexed  to  this  Union,  we  heard  noth- 
ing, from    the   gentlemen  who   now  oppose   this 
measure,  of  the  horrors  of  war — nothiiyi;  of  delay 
for  preparation — nothing  of  burning  and  .sacked 
cities — nothing  of  ingloriou.s  defeat — nothing  of  the 
groans  of  the  dying  stricken  down  in  battle^noth- 
ing  of  the  cx'uehed  heart  of  ti  e  widow — nothing  of 
the  tears  and  suffering  of  the  orphan.     Then  all 
was  glorious  victory.     The  area  of  freedom  was 
to  be  extended,  and  we  were  U)  achieve  an  easy 
conquest  over  England,  and  Mexico  too;  but  now, 
when  we  simply  wish  to  carry  out  a  treaty  stipu- 
lation with  England,  we  arc  solemnly  admonisned 
to  pause — called  on  to  practise  a  masterly  inactivi- 
ty— ay,  sir,  we  arc  now  told  that  the  better  part  oi 
valor  IS  discretion,  and  urged  t)  write  that  inglo- 
rious motto  on  our  national  standard.     Will  we 
do  it?    I  trust  not,  until  we  at  least  inquire  into 
the  character  of  him  who  uttered  i;,  and  the  oc- 
casion which  gave  birth   to  so  cowardly  a  sen- 
timent.    Who   was  it,   sir?    That  distinguished 
knight.  Jack  Falstaff,  whose  tavern-bill  ran  thus: 
"  Sack,  two  gallons,   5s.   8(/.      Item:  Anchovies, 
and  sack  after  sujfcr,  2s.  Gd.     Item:  Bread,  a  half 
penny."     He,  sir,  who  called  for  a  cup  of  sack  to 
make  his  eyes  look  red,  that  it  might  be  thought 
he  had  wept.     He,  sir,  who  exclaimed,  "if  sack 
and  sugar  be  a  crime,  God  help  the  wicked."  The 
same  heroic  knight,  who,  with   his  own  dagger, 
liacked  up  his  sword  like  a  handsaw, and  swore  "it 
was  done  in  valorous  conflict."    He,  sir,  who 
swore,  "  if  he  was  not  at  half  sword  with  a  dozen 
men  in  buckram,  and  misbegotten  rogues  in  Kendall 
green,  for  two   hours   togctaer,   then   was  he    a 
bunch  of  radishes,  and  no  two-legged  creature." 
The  same  man,  when  Poiiis,  his  companion,  ex- 
claimed: "  Pray  heaven.  Jack,  you  have  not  mur- 
dered some  of  them,"  replied:  "That  is  past  pray- 
ing for.     I  have  pejipered  two  of  them;  two,  I  am 
sure,  I  have  paid;  two  rogues  in  buckram  suits. 
I  tell   thee  what,  Hal,  if  I  tell  thee  a  lie,  spit  in 
my  face,  call  me  horse.     Thou  knowest  my  old 
ward.     Here  1  lay,  and  thus  I  bore  my  point,  and 
took  all  of  their  .seven  points  in  my  target,  thus. 
Their  points  being  broken,  I  followed  me  close, 
came  in  foot  and  hand,  and  with  a  thought,  seven 
of  the  eleven  1  paiu." 

This,  sir,  is  a  short  outline  of  the  character  of 
that  lying  braggart,  who  first  uttered  the  senti- 
ment, "The  better  part  of  valor  .s  discretion," 
with  which  the  gentleman  from  Alabama  [Mr, 
Ya-scey]  seems  to  have  fallen  so  deeply  in  love. 


nexation  of 
LLnj^lund  to 
.h.'it  issue." 

id  u  change 
?  On  what 
[low  j^rown 
;d,  w(!  were 
(111-,  which 
liip  Ijack  to 
<!  as  brave 
[•rini^c,  and 
may  plcaso 

position  to 

fears,  and 
hon  Texas 
I  card  noth- 
ppose  this 
\;^  of  delay 
md  sacked 
hiii^of  the 
ttlo — noih- 
■nnthing  of 

Then  all 
:edom  was 
e  an  easy 
;  but  now, 
^■ity  stinu- 
Imonisned 
ly  inactivi- 
Ltcr  part  ot 
that  inglo- 

Will  we 
iquire  into 
id  the  oc- 
Jly  a  sen- 
tinguished 

ran  thus: 
Lnchovies, 
•cad,  a  haljf 
of  sack  to 
)e  thought 
,  "if  sack 
ed."  The 
n  dagger, 
swore  "it 

sir,  who 
h  a  dozen 
in  Kendall 
was  he  a 
feature." 
mion,  ex- 

not  mur- 
past  pray- 
two,  I  am 
am  suits. 
ie,  spit  in 
t  my  old 
loint,  and 
get,  thus, 
me  close, 
ht,  seven 

iracter  of 
the  senti- 
crction," 
ma  [Mr. 
n  love. 


Let  us  now,  for  a  moment,  inquire  into  the  oora- 
■ion  atid  tlie  circumstances  under  wliich  that  sen- 
timent was  uttered.  It  was  on  the  battle  field  of 
Shrcwsl)ury,  wh*'re  the  gallant  Prince  Henry  . m- 
braced  the  fiery  Hotspur,  and  struck  him  down  in 
battle;  where  the  dreaded  Dougl.isa  of  the  iNortli 
cr4)H«ed  the  track  of  this  gallant  KuIstafT,  who, 
without  striking  a  blow  in  self-defence,  a  blow  for 
his  king,  or  his  country,  fell  to  the  ciirth  and  coun- 
terfeited death;  and  there,  sir,  yes,  there  lay  the 
most  illustrious  example  of  masterly  inactivity 
ever  recorded  on  the  page  of  hiatoiy.  As  the 
shock  of  battle  passed  by,  he  raised  his  cowardly 
carcass  from  the  earth,  and  seeing  Hotspur,  the  once 
dreaded  and  gallant  leader  of  the  war,  stretched  in 
death  by  his  side,  drew  his  sword  and  stabbed  the 
body  of  the  noble  dead,  exclaiming,  "  the  better 
part  of  valor  is  discretion."  Yes,  sir,  such  was 
the  man,  and  such  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  sentiment  was  uttered.  Sir,  1  am  a  plain, 
unlettered  man,  and  bear  with  great  humility  the 
reproach  cast  upon  me  by  the  gentleman  from 
Alabama,  [Mr.  Yancey,]  in  his  charge,  "  that 
the  West  has  sent  here  her  young  men,  full  of 
courage,  but  without  any  experience  ;it  all."  I 
will  close  my  reply  to  this  branch  of  the  ques- 
tion, l)y  adding,  that  it  is  owing  entirely  to  my 
inexperience  that  I  camiot,  with  him,  appreciate 
the  character  of  his  Falstaff,  or  the  beauty  of  his 
sentiments. 

The  gentleman  from  South  Carolina  tells  us  that 
this  notice  is  a  war  measure,  and  that  rumor  says 
that  it  is  a  scl.<  ne  for  President-making.  For  my 
own  part  I  can  appeal  to  Him  who  knows  the 
heart  to  witness  that  I  am  moved  by  no  such  con- 
siderations. I  would  not  turn  upon  my  heel  this 
day  to  make  any  one  man  President  over  another. 
All  I  ask  now,  or  shall  ever  ask  hereafter,  from  my 
country,  is  to  put  a  man  at  the  head  of  this  Govern- 
ment who  shall  carry  out  American  doctrines,  and 
act  on  Americtm  principles.  If  the  gentleman 
means  to  allude  to  me  m  any  such  remark,  he 
does  me  great  injustice.  Does  he  mean  to  say  that 
1  am  ready  to  cover  this  land  with  blood  for  the 
mere  petty,  paltry  object  of  advancing  one  man  over 
another  ?  If  he  means  such  a  charge  for  me,  I  throw 
back  the  charge  with  indignation.  It  is  possible 
that  we  may  not  comprehend  this  measure  as  clear- 
ly aa  do  gentlemen  from  the  South;  but  surely  our 
hearts  are  not  so  utterly  steeled  to  all  humanity — 
so  utterly  dead  to  every  just  sentiment — so  unmind- 
ful of  the  glory  and  happiness  of  our  country — that 
we  should  be  willing  to  cover  her  fair  fields  and  her 
verdant  plains  with  blood  to  advance  tlie  preten- 
sions of  General  Scott,  Governor  Wright,  Lewis 
("ass,  John  C.  Calhoun,  or  any  other  individual,  to 
the  presidential  chair.  It  was  unjust  in  the  gentle- 
man to  bring  a  charge  like  this  against  the  West. 

Perhaps  in  my  present  state  of  health,  it  would 
be  doing  injustice  to  myself  to  urge  this  di.scussion 
very  far.  During  most  of  the  day  I  have  been  con- 
fined to  my  room,  and  when  I  entered  this  Hall  I 
ho*!  just  risen  from  my  bed. 

But  I  said  that  I  felt  it  an  imperious  duty  to  say 
a  few  words  here  in  favor  of  the  West. 

And  now  lot  me  turn  for  a  moment  to  the  gentle- 
man fniiii  Virginia — to  the  "  lone  star"  of  the  uni- 
versal Dominion.  He  says,  in  speaking  of  the 
f)atriotic  pioneers  who  have  gone  to  Oregon,  "Why 


*  is  if,  that,  with  instinctive  aversion,  tliry  rctim 
'  before  the  advance  of  civilization,  {ircfcrring  the 
'  wild  excitement  and  ru;r2;rd  discomforts  of  the 
'  wilderness  to  the  repose,  the  s(!curiiy,  and  refine- 
'  mcnts  ofsncinl  and  cultivulal  lift:  .'  Tliey  manifest 
'  their  atta(;lunent  by  disregarding  the  influencea 
'  that  bind  ordinary  men  to  the  phues  of  their  na- 
'  tivity — by  snappingrrf/c/rss/j/the  lii's  of  blood  and 
'kindred.  Abandoning  the  hearths  and  altars  of 
'  their  childhood,  they  toil  through  a  vast  and  cheer- 
'  less  wilderness,  where  savage  man  and  savage 
'beast  meet  them  at  every  turn,  through  scenes 
'  where  damjer  lurks  in  every  jiath,  and  death  is 
'  whispered  in  every  breeze. "  Airain,  he  says:  "It 
'  is  not  the  policy  of  our  GovernHimt  to  he  run- 
'  ning  over  the  world  looking  al\or  ciiizcns,  whose 
'alk'jriance  is  oidy  manifested  by  acts  i>f  fr/)a/»na- 
'/ion."  Sir,  we  are  told  that  the  hardy  pioneers 
of  the  West  have  expatriated  themselves  by  going 
to  Orsgon. 

Sir,  some  fifty  years  ago,  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains were  to  the  rich  valley  of  the  lVlississip[)i, 
what  the  Rocky  mountains  now  are  to  tlx;  fertile 
plains  of  Oregon.  The  same  obstacles  were  then 
presented  by  the  one  that  now  obstruct  the  other. 
Had  the  gentleman  from  Virginia  [Mr.  Pkndlkton] 
met  the  adventurous  pioneer  who  first  climbed  the 
rugeed  heights  of  the  Alleghanies,  he  would,  I  pre- 
sume, have  ciddressed  him  thus:  "  Hold  !  You  are 
leaving  eastern  civilization,  (.'ome  back  to  the  re- 
finements of  eastern  Virginia;  wear  your  hair  long 
like  a  woman;  raise  an  imperial  and  tlin  moustache; 
perfume  yourself  with  Eaudc  Co/('g)if,and  ihe  Bou- 
quet de  Caroline;  attend  the  school  of  a  French  dan- 
cing-master, 'that  you  may  learn  to  caper  nimbly  in 
a  lady's  chamber,  to  the  lascivious  pleasing  of  a 
lute.'  Cross  not  yon  rugged  height;  beyond,  dan- 
ger lurks  in  every  path,  and  death  is  whispered  in 
every  breeze."  I  hear,  or  think  I  hear,  the  sturdy 
pioneer,  thus  arrested  and  thus  invoked,  reply,  "  1 
had  rather  have  one  siiuiT  of  yon  pure  mountain 
air  than  all  the  perfumery  of  your  shops.  I  would 
rather  hear  one  note  of  yon  mountain  harp,  swept 
by  the  winds  of  heaven,  and  touched  by  the  hand 
of  nature,  than  all  the  music  of  your  masters.  You 
tell  me  there  is  danger  in  every  path.  That  of  itself 
would  lure  me  on.  Danger,  1  court  it."  Findin? 
that  this  hardy  woodsman  could  not  be  turned 
back  to  Virginia  civilization  by  such  considerations, 
he  is  urged  still  further,  and  informed  that  ho  ex- 
patriates himself — is  unworthy  the  name  of  an 
American  citizen;  that  he  voluntarily  and  reck- 
lessly is  snapping  the  ties  of  blood  and  kindred,  by 
forsakhig  the  altTirs  of  his  childhood.  At  this,  in 
sorrow  he  exclaims,  "  I  expatriated  !  I  unworthy 
the  name  of  an  American  citizen !  I  recklessly 
snapping  tl.e  ties  of  kindred  !  I,  who  before  these 
arms  had  fifteen  years  pith,  took  up  arms  for  my 
country,  and  fought  on  every  battle-field  of  the 
Revolution  !  I,  who  saw  my  own  patriotic  sire, 
in  a  successful  charge,  stricken  down  by  my  side, 
whose  last  and  only  word  was,  '  Onward,  my  son, 
your  country  needs  you  !'  'Twas  then  the  ties  of 
kindred  and  of  blood  were  snapped."  Arc  such 
men  as  these  to  be  denied  the  privilege  of  citizen- 
ship because  they  can't  dance  with  eastern  grace? 
Sir,  had  it  not  been  for  our  Booiies,  our  Poes,  and 
men  like  these,  the  places  where  now  stand  our 
western  cities,  our  tcmple.s  of  worship,  and  halls  of 


•ciencc,  would  be  inhabited  by  savage  man  or  sav- 
age beast.  The  joyous  song  of  plenty  would  not 
now  rise  daily  from  the  hearts  of  our  happy  mil- 
lions. I  nm  replying  more  to  the  arguments  urged 
here  against  the  West,  than  arguing  our  title  to  the 
territory.  It  is  now  too  late  to  begin  an  argument 
on  the  question  of  our  title.  That  seems  to  be  admit- 
ted on  all  hands,  at  least  by  most  of  the  gentlemen 
who  are  opposed  to  giving  the  notice  at  this  time. 

The  gentleman  from  Virginia,  [Mr.  Bf.dinoer,] 
apparently  not  content  with  the  praises  that  have 
been  urged  in  favor  of  British  valor  and  British 
power,  dragged  down  the  American  Eagle — the 
noble  emblem  of  our  country's  freedom — from  its 
high  flight,  and  made  it  to  stop  in  its  free  course, 
that  a  rainless  cloud  might  pass  by.  It  is  true, 
air,  the  gentleman  made  his  bird  at  first  to  .soar 
gracefully  and  boldly  upwards,  as  though  to  snatch 
m  its  beak  the  lightnings  of  Heaven;  but,  as  it  ap- 
proached even  un  imaginary  danger — "a  rainless 
cloud" — like  a  coward,  it  stooped  to  its  perch  to 
let  it  sweep  by.  Sir,  I,  too,  am  familiar  with  the 
habits  of  the  eagle,  and  well  remember,  on  the  ap- 
proach of  one  of  those  maddening  tempests  that 
sometimes  seem  to  be  struggling  for  mastery  over 
both  sea  and  land — one  which  carries  before  it  con- 
sternation and  terror,  and  leaves  in  its  track  de- 
struction and  death — one  that  now  sweeps  the  vale 
below,  and  now  seizes  by  the  top  the  mountain 
pine,  and  dashes  it  to  the  earth,  and  anon  lashes 
old  ocean  to  a  fury.  At  the  approach  of  such  a 
tempest,  I  beheld  one  of  these  noble  birds,  with  its 
wings  folded  in  peace,  watching  the  coming  storm, 
and,  as  it  felt  the  first  rockings  of  the  tempest,  it 
sprang  aloft,  and  for  a  moment  lay  suspended 
in  mid  heaven,  as  though  to  discover  where  the 
tempest  most  raged;  then,  dashing  onward,  it  ap- 
proached nearer  and  yet  nearer  the  coming  storm, 
until  at  last  it  was  lost  in  its  darkne^^.^  and  con- 
fusion. I  could  but  exclaim,  Noble  bird!  even  if 
thou  fallest,  stricken  down  by  the  bolts  of  Heaven, 
'twas  bravely  done.  '"  j  for  a  moment  to  learn 
ita  fate,  I  saw  it  gract  merging  from  the  cloud 

into  the  broad  sunsh  Heaven,  far  above  the 

raging  tempest  below.  Then  shaking  the  rain- 
drops from  its  triumphant  wing,  it  cut  its  course 
westward  to  its  seat  of  empire.  That,  sir,  that, 
was  an  American  eagle,  and  no  mousing  and  cow- 
ardly owl,  that  stoops  to  its  perch  because  a  rain- 
less cloud  lay  in  its  free  course. 

Sir,  we  are  admonished  by  gentlemen,  that  if  this 
notice  be  given,  we  shall  lose  California.  Lose  Cal- 
ifornia! When,  sir,  was  it  ours?  Never,  sir,  never; 
and  how  are  we  to  lose  that  which  is  not,  and  never 
was,  ours  ?  Sir,  I  have  no  objection  to  the  purchase 
of  California;  and  here  let  me  say,  that  I  confident- 
ly believe  that  tliis  Republic,  with  her  free  institu- 
tions and  prosperity,  standing  as  an  example  to 
the  world,  free  and  enlightened  governments  are  to 
and  will,  extend  from  one  country  to  another,  until 
at  last  every  man  will  be  left  free  to  speak,  free  to 
act,  and  free  to  think.  But,  sir,  for  the  chance  of 
purchasing  California  from  a  weak  and  distracted 
nation,  I  am  unwilling  to  yield  territory  that  is 
ours,  simply  because  a  proud  and  arrogant  nation 


demands  it.  We  are  told  by  gentlemen  who  ad- 
mit Oregon  to  be  ours,  that  we  must  not  give  this 
ru)tice,  because  England  is  in  a  state  of  preparation 
for  war;  that  she  is  stronger  this  day  than  she  was 
when  she  set  her  proud  foot  upon  the  neck  of  thn 
very  genius  of  war — Napoleon;  that  she  belts  the 
earth  with  her  military  posts  and  colonial  posses- 
sions; that  the  sun  never  rises  but  it  awakens  an 
English  soldier  to  arms;  that  it  never  sets  but  upon 
British  dominions.  Sir,  this  is  an  argument,  if  true, 
addressed  solely  to  the  fears  of  this  House  and  this 
nation;  but  I  am  one  of  those  who  do  not  believe 
England  is  so  powerful,  and  this  Government  so 
weak,  as  represented  by  gentlemen.  On  the  one 
hand,  we  have  at  least  four  millions  out  of  our 
twenty  millions  of  inhabitants  able  to  bear  arms 
in  defence  of  our  country's  honor,  and  in  defence 
of  American  soil — with  all  the  munitions  and 
sinews  of  war  at  our  control — with  a  country  pro- 
ducing all  the  necessaries  of  life.  On  the  other 
hand,  England,  with  a  population  of  about 
four  millions  greater  than  ours,  many  of  whom 
are  engaged  in  their  mines,  and  have  never 
seen  the  sweet  rays  of  Heaven's  sun,  another 
large  proportion  of  her  subjects  are  confined  within 
the  walls  of  factories,  with  sinews  worn  out  by 
fatigue  and  shrunk  by  starvation.  And  who  of  us 
is  there  who  does  not  know  that  there  arc  now 
eight  millions  of  hearts  of  the  Green  Emerald  pant- 
ing for  liberty,  and  eager  for  a  conflict.'  Sir,  who 
is  there  of  us  that  does  not  know  that  some  of  the 
colonial  possessions  of  England  rather  weaken 
her  in  war  than  give  her  strength?  I  repeat, 
sir,  in  my  opinion,  England  is  not  as  power- 
ful a.s  represented.  But  if  she  is,  I  would  rather, 
as  an  American  citizen,  uroud  of  my  country,  en- 
ter into  a  just  war  with  England  than  set  a  coward- 
ly foot  on  a  weak  and  powerless  nation.  Nay, 
more,  sir;  I  would  rather  yield  Oregon  to  the  im- 
perious demands  of  E^ngland  than  be  guilty  of  steal- 
nig  it  by  masterly  inactivity.  If  we  are  afraid  to 
defend  our  territory,  let  us  say  so  to  the  world,  and 
give  it  up  with  as  much  grace  as  possible,  and  for- 
get the  inglorious  deed. 

Let  me  now  for  a  moment  revert  to  the  proposi- 
tion before  the  committee.  It  is  the  giving  of  no- 
tice to  terminate  the  convention  existing  between 
this  Government  and  England.  The  express  treaty 
stipulation  is,  that  either  nation  may,  at  any  time, 
give  such  notice.  Suppose  we  give  the  notice  and 
England  declares  war,  setting  forth  in  her  declara- 
tion that  the  United  States  have  dared  to  execute 
an  express  treaty  stipulation.  This  is  all  she  could 
in  truth  say,  and  this  imbodies  the  entire  proposi- 
tion. Do  you  not  see  in  such  an  event  the  civilized 
world  would  be  against  England  and  hold  her  re- 
sponsible for  the  result?  Sir,  believing  as  I  do 
that  our  title  to  Oregon  is  perfect — feeling  it  to  be 
right  that  we  should  vindicate  our  title  to  it,  and 
believing  no  nation  should  voluntarily  surrender 
jurisdiction  to  her  territory,  and  believing  that  fur- 
ther delay  involves  the  question  in  more  difficul- 
ties— I  shall  cast  my  vote  for  the  notice,  and  leave 
the  issue  with  Him  who  holds  the  destinies  of  na- 
tions in  his  hands. 


I 


en  who  ad- 
it give  this 
preparation 
lan  she  was 
neck  of  thn 
ie  belts  the 
nial  poBses- 
iwakens  an 
ta  but  upon 
lent,  if  true, 
use  and  this 
not  believe 
ernment  so 
On  the  one 
out  of  our 
bear  arms 
I  in  defence 
litions  and 
inintry  pro- 
n  the  other 

of  about 
iT  of  whom 
lave  never 
m,  another 
ined  within 
nrn  out  by 
i  who  of  us 
re  arc  now 
lerald  pant- 
'  Sir,  who 
some  of  the 
ler  weaken 

I  repeat, 
as  power- 
luld  rather, 
ountry,  en- 
t  a  coward- 
ion.     Nay, 

I  to  the  im- 
ilty  of  steal- 
re  afraid  to 

world,  and 
le,  and  for- 

he  propoei- 
ving  of  no- 
ng  between 
iress  treaty 
t  any  time, 

notice  and 
ler  declara- 

to  execute 

II  she  could 
re  proposi- 
he  civilized 
lold  her  re- 
^g  as  I  do 
iiig  it  to  be 
e  to  it,  and 
T  surrender 
ig  that  fur- 
ire  difficult 
,  and  leave 
nies  of  na- 


I 
* 


